Bush Fire Control

FIREBREAK NOTICE

 BUSHFIRES ACT, 1954 -1977

 SHIRE OF NARROGIN

 Notice to all Owners and / or Occupiers of Land

 in the Shire of NARROGIN

 Pursuant to the powers contained in Section 33 of the above Act, you are hereby required ON OR BEFORE THE 31st OCTOBER AND THEREAFTER UP TO AND INCLUDING THE 15TH MAY the following year, to have a firebreak clear of all inflammable material in accordance with the following;

(1) RURAL & RURAL RESIDENTIAL LAND

 a)      Firebreaks at least 2.5 metres wide formed by either ploughing, cultivating, scarifying, burning or otherwise clearing shall be maintained inside and within 20 metres of the boundary of all land; and surrounding such other positions as is necessary to divide land in excess of 400 hectares into area not exceeding 400 hectares, each completely surrounded by a firebreak.

 b)      Firebreaks at least 6.0 metres wide formed by either ploughing, cultivating, scarifying, burning or otherwise clearing shall completely encircle all buildings and haystacks.

 c)      Fuel tanks, whether containing fuel or not, shall have the ground surface cleared to a distance of 6.0 metres from and encircling the tank/s of all inflammable material.

 d)      FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT

Where the land owners total land holding is one hundred (100) hectares or greater a readily mobile operational fire fighting unit containing a minimum of 400 litres of water on standby and available for inspection is required during the period 31st October to 15th May of each year.

 e)      HARVESTING

 A person shall not operate or suffer the operation of a grain harvesting machine or any machine used for swathing, baling or slashing of stubble or hay in any crop during the prohibited burning times unless;

 1.          One hand held water filled fire extinguisher (minimum capacity 7.5 litres) is filled in a readily accessible position on the machine.

2.          A readily mobile fire fighting unit of a minimum of 400 litre capacity powered by an engine driven pump is in attendance in or adjacent to the entrance of the paddock being harvested.

 f)       HARVEST BANS AND OTHER BANS

 DEFINITIONS

 The following definitions shall apply to the guidelines on the ban of vehicle and machinery movement and the operation of internal combustion engines under Regulations 38A and 38B of the Bush Fires Act.

  Laneway/Roadway (non gazetted)

A laneway/roadway is defined as having a trafficable surface, free of all inflammable material, a minimum of four metres wide. Overhanging vegetation has to be pruned back so as not to come into contact with parts of a vehicle.

 Yard

A yard is defined as an area, more than four metres wide, with a constructed, trafficable surface, free of all inflammable material save live standing trees.

 

Mobile Fire Fighting Unit

A mobile fire fighting unit is defined as having a minimum water carrying capacity of four hundred (400) litres, fitted with a hose and pump capable of delivering water through an adjustable nozzle in the spray and jet configurations.

Harvest Ban

A ban on the operation of all grain harvesting machines including swathing, baling or slashing machines within the Shire or part of the Shire and during a time, as specified in a notice or broadcast (Reg 38A).

 

A ban on the Movement of all Vehicles and Machines and the Operation of Internal Combustion Engines

A ban on the movement of all vehicles and machinery and the operation of internal combustion engines within the Shire or a part of the Shire and during a time as specified in a notice or broadcast (eg 38A and B) with the exception of the movement of vehicles and machinery on made gazetted roads, laneways and yards. The following activities are permitted provided these comply with specified conditions.

 

PERMITTED ACTIVITIES

 (i)                   Loading and offloading of grain, fertiliser and feed is only permitted on sites, which are clear of all inflammable material save live standing trees to a radius of at least 50 metres with a laneway access. A mobile fire fighting unit shall be in attendance at all times.

(ii)                 Water carting for stock and domestic purposes provided it is accompanied by a mobile fire fighting unit, or alternatively, the water carting vehicle acts as the mobile fire fighting unit and meets minimum specifications.

(iii)                All necessary travel to and from and within piggeries, sheep or cattle feed lots, provided this is undertaken with a mobile fire fighting unit in attendance.

(iv)                All necessary carting of livestock, provided that such a vehicle is accompanied by a mobile fire fighting unit.

(v)                 Activities which received specific exemptions from Council or the Chief Bush Fire Control Officer.

 

CHRISTMAS DAY

 A Harvest Ban and a ban on the movement of all vehicles and machines and the operation of internal combustion engines is imposed on Christmas Day each year.

 

All other activities or operations may only be undertaken during Total Vehicle and Machinery Movement Bans and Bans on the Operation of Internal Combustion Engines after approval has been granted by Council. Approval has to be sought on an individual basis. Approval may be subject to specified conditions. It should be noted that approval may not be granted.

 

(2)  TOWN LAND

 (a)        Where the area of land is 0.202 hectares (half an acre) or less, all inflammable material on the land, shall be reduced to a height of less than 7.5 centimetres (three inches).

 (b)       Where the area of land exceeds 0.202 hectares (half an acre) in area, firebreaks at least 2 metres (six and a half feet) wide formed by either ploughing, cultivating, scarifying, burning or otherwise clearing shall be provided immediately inside all external boundaries of the land and inflammable material on the remainder of the land shall be reduced to a height of less than 7.5 centimetres (three inches).

 (c)        Buildings or haystacks within the firebreak described in 2 (b) shall have the ground surface cleared to a distance of 6 metres (twenty feet) from and encircling the building/s or haystack/s of all inflammable material.

 

GENERAL

 If it is considered to be impracticable for any reason to clear firebreaks or to remove inflammable material from the land or any other provisions required by this notice you may apply to the Council or its duly authorised officer not later than 31st October, for permission to provide firebreaks in alternative positions or to take alternative action to abate fire hazards on the land.

 If permission is not granted by the Council or its duly authorised officer you shall comply with the requirements of this notice.

 “Inflammable Material” is defined for the purpose of this Order to include bush (as defined in the Bushfires Act), timber, boxes, cartons, paper and like inflammable materials, rubbish and also any combustible matter, but does not include green standing trees, or growing bushes and plants in gardens, or lawns.

 The penalty for failing to comply with this notice is a fine of not more than $1000, or a penalty of $250 incurred by issue of an infringement notice, and a person in default is also liable, whether prosecuted or not to pay the cost of performing the work directed in this notice if it is not carried out by the owner or occupier by the date required by this notice.

 If the requirements of this notice are carried out by burning, such burning must be in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Bush Fires Act. A permit to burn is required during the restricted and prohibited burning periods from an authorised officer.

 

 BY ORDER OF THE COUNCIL

GEOFF MCKEOWN

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

 PROHIBITED AND RESTRICTED BURNING PERIODS

 

Restricted Burning Times (Permit required)

 i)              October 15th 2008– November 14th 2008

ii)             February 16th 2009 – May 15th 2009

 

Prohibited Burning Times

            November 15th 2008 – February 15th 2009

 

Fire Control Officers

 

Chief Fire Control Officer

Geoff McKeown

9881 1246

Deputy Fire Control Officer

Darrell Wiese

9885 9024

Base Radio Officer

Alastair McDougall

9882 4014

John Hoysted

Boundain

9882 3035

Richard Chadwick

Central

9881 2329

Dave Hayes

Central

9881 2070

Pip Porter

Highbury East

9885 9041

Bernie Rhodes

Highbury East

9882 3016

Darrell Wiese

Highbury South

9885 9024

Gerald Saunders

Highbury South

9881 1927

Bill Warren

Highbury South

9885 9045

Russell Ashley

Highbury West

9881 5859

Ross Eckersley

Highbury West

9885 9064

Simon Kain

Highbury West

9881 3185

Barry Hardie

Minigin

9884 5232

Brenton Hardie

Minigin

9884 5232

Vern Gibson

Narrogin South

9881 1162

Jon Rick

Narrogin South

9881 3102

Alistair McDougall

Narrogin Valley

9881 1204

Keiran Quartermaine

Narrogin Valley

9881 3303

David Walker

Nomans Lake

9861 6020

Alastair McDougall

Ockley

9882 4014

Scott Baxter

Ockley

9882 7031

Allan White

Ockley

9881 1920

 

The Narrogin Shire will operate on UHF emergency channel 5.  When attending a fire, brigade members are asked to switch to this channel.

 

SMS GROUP MESSAGING

 If you would like to receive Harvest Ban Information by SMS Messaging please contact the Shire administration centre on 9881 1866 with your mobile number to be included in this service.

 

HARVEST BAN INFORMATION LINE

 Council has a phone line which will provide a current harvest ban status within the Shire.

 

Call 9881 4988

 

Last modified 25-09-2008 01:14 PM